John 8:19-20 19. Then they said to Him, "Where is Your Father?'' Jesus answered, "You know neither Me nor My Father. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also.'' 20. These words Jesus spoke in the treasury, as He taught in the temple; and no one laid hands on Him, for His hour had not yet come.

[A] Last time we met, we left off with verse nineteen. I wanted to start there tonight so we would be reminded of what Jesus said. [1] The question was asked, Where is your Father? [a] Jesus had just told the Jews that he and his Father testified from him, and so he was speaking truly as the law stated. [b] Jewish law said that two or three witness had to be present before they were to be believed [2] Jesus said, "You know neither Me nor My Father. [a] The last time we talked about the importance of knowing Jesus, for by knowing him, we know the father [b] We also talked about ways to learn to know Jesus better

Verse 20 [A] Jesus as we are seen numerous times already, was speaking in the temple [1] The Jews had previously sent officers out to arrest Jesus [2] The orders still stood that he should be put to death.

[B] Again we see what we have seen several times before, it was not his time [1] God had a specific time and a specific way already preordained for the death of Christ [2] That day and time had not arrived, therefore it was not yet his time [3] The time for which he was to be arrested was on the night of the Passover [4] It was then, as the Jewish people celebrated the Passover - that Jesus was to be betrayed and crucified, as a sacrifice for the sins of all mankind [5] Any other time, would not have been the same

John 8: 21-27 21. Then Jesus said to them again, "I am going away, and you will seek Me, and will die in your sin. Where I go you cannot come.'' 22. So the Jews said, "Will He kill Himself, because He says, `Where I go you cannot come'?'' 23. And He said to them, "You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of This world. 24. "Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.'' 25. Then they said to Him, "Who are You?'' And Jesus said to them, "Just what I have been saying to you from the beginning. 26. "I have many things to say and to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I heard from Him.'' 27. They did not understand that He spoke to them of the Father.

[A] Jesus said that he was going away, and that they would seek him, but they could not come. [a] Whom was he speaking too? [1] The scribes and Pharisees at the temple [b] Why would they not be allowed to go where he was going? [1] The only way into heaven is through Jesus Christ [2] They refused to believe on him [c] What did he mean that they would die in their sins? [1] They refused to believe that they were a sinner [2] They were the ones who told everyone else that they were sinning and refused to look into the mirror of God’s Holy Word, to see their own sins [3] They would not look to the only one who was able to forgive them - Jesus

Verse twenty-two [A] Those to whom he was speaking did not understand what he was talking about [1] Why was it so hard for the leaders of the Jews to understand what Jesus was talking about? [2] Why could they not see their own sins and faults and seek forgiveness for what they were doing? [a] They were blinded by pride [b] They were blinded by their power [c] They thought they were the only ones to know the law and the prophets, therefore Jesus had to be wrong [3] Why is it so hard for one to admit that he or she has a problem they need help with? [4] Why is it so hard for people in the church to come to the altar and seek God?

Verses twenty-three and twenty-four [A] In verse twenty-three, Jesus states that they are from this world but he is from above [1] What does he mean by this? [2] Are we from this world or from above? [3] Can we be a part of the world and still be a part of the Kingdom of Heaven?

[B] In verse twenty-four, Jesus explains to them that this was the reason he said what he said to them.

[C] He also said to them, if you do not believe that I am who I say I am, you will die in your sins, therefore they would not go to heaven, but instead go to hell. [1] What does this tell you, about anyone who does not believe in Jesus? [2] What must one do to be saved? [3] What does it mean to believe in Jesus?

Verse twenty-five [A] The Jews then asked Jesus who he was

[B] Jesus answered and said [1] I am the same person I have telling you I am from the beginning [2] He hadn’t changed, instead they refused to believe.

Verse twenty-six [A] I like what Jesus said here, in the beginning of this verse [1] I have many things to say concerning you [2] I have many things to Judge you with [a] He seen in them the evil people they really were [b] He came willingly to offer himself on the cross for the forgiveness of sin, and here were the leaders of the people and they didn’t believe in him [B] Then he goes on to say that he is only telling them what the one who sent him told him to say. [1] Even though Jesus was God in flesh, never once does he take credit for what he does or says [2] He is always certain to give all credit to God the Father who sent him. [3] Jesus, because of who he was, could have bragged, or stated that it was he who was the one behind all he did, and that would have been true, because he was God, yet he never did

Verse twenty-seven[A] Like always, they did not understand him

[B] He was speaking of God the father, sending him, yet they had no idea of whom he spoke.

John 8:28-30 28. Then Jesus said to them, "When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things. 29. "And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.'' 30. As He spoke these words, many believed in Him.

[A] I’ve heard it said that Jesus did not know what manor of death he would, did, according to verse thirty-eight, it looks to me like he did [1] He said when you lift up the Son of Man [a] He was referring to his death on the cross, being lifted up [b] Notice that he also said, when you lift up the Son of man, indicating that he knew they would be behind his death [2] When he would be lifted up, then they would know that he was who he claimed to be [a] Did this happen? [b] Did his death make the Jews believe in him? [3] He also said that he did nothing of himself, but only what the father told him - did he display this on the cross? [a] He refused to come down when he was able [b] He chose to suffer so we would not have too [c] He was died that we might live

Verse twenty-nine [A] He also told them that the one who sent him was with him - and he was never alone

[B] Questions [1] Is this not the same with us? [2] Are we ever alone? [3] Did not Christ promise never to leave us or forsake us? [4] What then does this tell you?

Verse thirty [A] When Jesus spoke these words, many believed in him

[B] What was it about these statements that made people believe in him?

John 8:31-36 31. Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32. And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. 33. They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? 34. Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. 35. And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. 36. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

Verse thirty-one [A] Jesus told those who believed in him, [1] If they continued in his word [2] They would be his disciples

[B] Questions? [1] What is a disciple? [2] Are we his disciples? [3] What does it mean to continue in his word? [4] If one does not continue in his word, can you still be his disciple?

Verse thirty-two [A] Then after he tells them, if they continue in his word, they would be one of his disciples,

[B] He told them that they would know the truth, and the truth would set them free.

[C] Questions: [1] Jesus was once asked by Pilot, What is truth? I ask you the same thing tonight, What is truth? [2] Jesus said that he was the way, the truth and the life. Having said this, who is truth? [3] Is there any other truth other than Jesus. [4] How can knowing the truth set you free?

Verse thirty-three [A] Again the Jews began to question him

[B] They said [1] We are children of Abraham [2] We are not bond servants to anyone [3] Why then do we need to be free?

Verse thirty-four [A] Here Jesus tells them an interesting thing

[B] Anyone who commits sin, is a servant to sin

[C] How can you explain this? [1] When one sins, it is because they have a lust in heart [2] Sin becomes a habit in some cases, and we cannot live without it [3] The things we desire that are sinful, becomes a powerful need in us. [4] We become a servant to the sin, because we cannot stop sinning

Verse thirty-five and six [A] In these verses, Jesus is showing the people the difference between the son of a household, and a servant. [1] The son is born into the family, and he will remain a part of the family forever [2] A slave or servant is brought into the house, and are there for only as long as the master wants them [3] There is security in being a son - but there is no security in being a servant

[B] Jesus said if the son sets you free, you are free indeed. [1] If the son, cuts the bonds that tie you to sin, you are free from those sins. [2] When you receive freedom, you are free to life your life without sin, and without the bondage that accompanies that sin. [3] You are made free from you sins, and transgressions and they are remembered no more [4] You become a child of God, no longer a servant but now a child adopted into his family and treated like one of his own children

John 8:37-40 37. I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you. 38. I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father. 39. They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham. 40. But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.

Verse thirty-seven [A] I know that you are Abraham’s seed [1] Jesus told them that he understood that they were Abraham’s seed [2] The fact was, he too was Abraham’s seed

[B] What didn’t make sense was that they wanted to kill him and the reason was, because they did not want to hear the words he spoke to them. His word hath no place in you. [1] His words were spoken, but they were not heard [2] He expressed himself in a mighty way, but could not understand [3] They were blinded by their own beliefs, prejudices and fears. [4] Here stood the one who inspired the writings they possessed in their scripture yet they did not want to hear him speak,

[C] We often are disturbed when we speak to people about Jesus [1] Should we expect them to listen to us, when they wouldn’t listen to Jesus? [2] Should we expect more success than the Son of God had when we speak to them?

Verse thirty-eight [A] Then Jesus told them [1] I speak what if have seen with my Father [2] You do what you have seen with your Father

[B] Whom was the two Fathers Jesus spoke of [1] God the Father [2] Satan

Verse thirty-nine [A] They then claimed that Abraham was their father

[B] Jesus told them if Abraham was their father they would do the works of Abraham

[C] What did he mean by this?

Verse forty [A] Abraham would not seek to kill a man who told him the truth